Lawmakers launch committee after spike in foster child abuse

AUSTIN – State lawmakers launched a special effort Tuesday to explore how to reduce child deaths after a year in which a record high number of kids died of abuse and neglect in foster care.

The nine-member state House Select Committee on Child Protection held its first meeting, listening to a six-hour overview of the state agency responsible for investigating cases of abuse and neglect, Child Protective Services.

CPS, a frequent target of criticism, has been under intense scrutiny lately. While overall Texas child deaths from abuse and neglect decreased from 212 in 2012 to 156 last year, abuse and neglect deaths of foster kids spiked from two to 10.

A recent review found CPS front-line caseworkers spend just 26 percent of their time with families. The agency is also in the middle of a once-a-decade examination by the state Sunset Advisory Commission.

The select committee, created this spring by Speaker Joe Straus because of the foster-care deaths, is expected to submit recommendations on the issue by Dec. 1.

“Protecting children from abuse and neglect is one of the government essential functions,” said committee chairwoman Dawnna Dukes, D-Austin, adding the number of deaths “represents far too many young lives that ended tragically and senselessly.”

Tuesday’s hearing focused mostly on high-level overviews, with no public testimony or talk of specific potential solutions..

But one exchange may have foreshadowed a looming issue for lawmakers to confront:

John Specia, commissioner of the state Department of Family and Protective Services, which includes CPS, at one point proudly talked about the agency’s initial response to the spike in deaths – broadening background checks for potential foster parents, including by interviewing family members and neighbors, and more unannounced visits to homes, among other moves.

But some lawmakers suggested that the new requirements may be too intense, potentially turning off those who could be great foster parents.

“Is the cure worse than the disease?” wondered aloud state Rep. James Frank, R-Wichita Falls. “It is amazing the utopian that is set up. To be a foster care parent requires things that you almost can’t do.”

Specia responded that officials carefully thought about how to change the standards.